Story in tonight's Evening Standard

Extract from 125 Wing ORB for 19 April 1945 – This was late in the day and at about the same time a section of 130 Sqdn ran into 20-plus FW190’s and in the ensuing dogfight F/Lt Ponsford chased one of them 15 miles to the deck before he was able to shoot it down. By then he was alone and came back after trying to locate the other two F/O Murphy and F/Sgt Clay. Neither of them has been heard of since but we hope they got away with it, and in view of the rate at which the blokes are streaming in, they may be back with us quite soon. Here’s hoping. Earlier in the day F/O Carter of 130 Sqdn had engine trouble and force landed in our lines and is believed to be safe, so with any luck we shall be seeing him again quite soon.

Spitfire XIV dig

And this is Andy Miller – who was shot down by a gunner in a Ju188 – however, if anybody has a photo of F/O I Smith (SR80463) I would love a copy. He became the Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia (then Rhodesia) before passing the job on to Robert Mugabe. cheers – Allan125 🙂

No – it’s not Carter – but he is definitely RAAF – note the lack of Wings or RAAF blue in this photo. It’s Vic Murphy.

Spitfire XIV dig

Right Squadron – Someone looked in FCL and decided it wasn’t Terry Spencer, Phil Clay or Frank Woolley as they are Brit’s – but what about F/O W H Carter who is also RAAF and survived ? 🙂 cheers – Allan125

Temperature.

RN203 feels pretty warm to me.

Mark

OK..

Not sure about the ‘last combat bit’

The last combat I can find for a Spitfire XIV is NH691 on 27th April (shot down by Ju-88) but the Australian pilot was killed in that one, so that does not seem to work.

A Spitfire XVI of 430 Sqn (TB754) was shot down by FW190’s on 23rd April – But that is the wrong mark and it landed on an autobahn

Another XVI (SM664) of 443 (RCAF) was shot down on the 21st April 1945 (pilot killed)

There were other combats, but based on the evidence. Australian Pilot, (safe) and type: Mark XIV

I would guess at:

19th April 1945

RN203 of 130 Sqn, piloted by F/O V Murphy RAAF (combat with Fw190s)

AM I Cold/Warm/Hot??

Paul

Men of the Battle of Britain gives P2725, Holmes’ Hurricane, as crashing and burning outside Fountain Court, Buckingham Palace. Is this the same ‘central London’ location?

Flood.

Hi Guys – I am involved in the dig in Germany – however, all I am allowed to say by the producer is that it is a Spitfire XIV, with an Australian pilot (who is still alive) – my hobby is 125 Wing 1943-1945 (41, 130 and 350 at the relevant time) and it’s in FCL so that narrows the squadron down a bit !! No it’s not an Oz squadron, they didn’t have XIV’s at the time. More when I can say – cheers – Allan125

As somebody who can put a spanner down and never see it again, I’m hardly qualified to comment, but how can you lose a propellor?

Read the book and find out its quite an amusing story 😀

And Spitfire to (should make JBS and Mark 12 H A P P Y) – Can anyone supply and Id for the Spit in Germany, my copy of Fighter Command Losses is at home!

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=2857571

If *********** get the Hurricane wreckage, it will be flying in 10 years!

As somebody who can put a spanner down and never see it again, I’m hardly qualified to comment, but how can you lose a propellor?

Thanks to both of you.

I shall be looking out for the T.V. program, thanks JBS

No problemo 🙂

If you can get hold of his book SKY SPY give it a read its very good.

I wonder if they will find his boots aparantly he lost them somewhere between jumping and landing 😮

As an interesting asside he was later presented with one of the propelers from the Dornier which he managed to loose does anyone know where it is now?

Thanks to both of you.

I shall be looking out for the T.V. program, thanks JBS

I was sure it had been mentioned before.

http://forum.airforces.info/showthread.php?t=1067&highlight=holmes+dornier

It’s only short-term memory that fails as you get older.